ECCLESIASTES 1:2-11; PSALM 90; LUKE 9:7-9
Vanity of life is the product of all forms of ungodly practices. The statement “Vanity of vanities” in the first reading means the greatest vanity of all. Solomon discovered that even with all his riches and all his wisdom, there is absolutely nothing of this world that can bring a lasting satisfaction or contentment! In the gospel, Herod became very anxious when he couldn’t decipher if John was back to life or a new messenger. His anxiety expressed the vanity of his actions. Beloved, Life without Christ is crisis and all will end in vanity if we do not submit ourselves to God in whom we find the true meaning of life.
Vanity is the cause of spiritual declension, and the reason why the progress of Christianity on the earth is so slow. Today, many are bending at the shrine of pleasure; we must wake up and realize the need for eternal substance. In one of his homilies, Pope Francis described vanity like an onion that we must peel off layer by layer until we are free, he also described it like a soap bubble that looks so beautiful but eventually disappears, lastly he said vanity is like someone who puts on too much makeup and fears the rain will come and wash it away. Lord have mercy!
Let us pray
May the Lord give us grace to overcome the things which are seen (vanities), and hold on to the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (II Cor. 4:18). For then our portion shall be glory that transcends all the vanities of this present time.
